Animal activists plan on protesting outside the American Museum of Natural History for exhibiting live alligators and crocodiles. (Roderick Mickens / American Museum of Natural History)

Animal activists think this museum exhibit is a crock.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is planning to protest outside the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side on Thursday because it has live alligators and crocodiles in one of its popular new exhibits.

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"Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World" features American alligator hatchlings and a forest-dwelling crocodile, according to the museum.

Putting exotic reptiles in the museum is cruel and dangerous, PETA said in a letter mailed last month to AMNH President Ellen Futter.

“In captivity, they're exposed to loud crowds and screaming children, who incessantly bang on their glass tanks, exposing animals to trauma, behavioral stress, and unnecessary discomfort that could cause one or more of these animals to lash out against caretakers or the public with little to no provocation, potentially causing serious injuries or even death,” wrote John Di Leonardo, the animals in entertainment campaigner for PETA.

But museum officials said the animals are well cared for and are only there for a short time. The exhibit closes in January 2017.

“Consistent with our mission to educate and inspire the public about the natural world, biological sciences, and biodiversity conservation, the American Museum of Natural History exhibits living animals on a limited basis in selected temporary exhibitions and public programs,” the museum said in a statement. “In all cases, the museum follows established best practices concerning the welfare of the individual animals as well as concern for the conservation of these species in the wild.”

PETA said that is unveiled its “action alert” on Wednesday morning, urging people to attend the protest and send emails to the museum, after the museum refused to remove the alligators and crocodiles from the exhibit.